MLB to honor victims, families of 9/11

September 11th, 2019

Major League Baseball will continue its tradition of honoring the victims and families impacted by the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, as the league and its clubs will pause to remember those who lost their lives while also paying tribute to the men and women who continue to serve our country.

Wednesday marks the 18 years since the attacks.

Players, coaches and umpires will wear 9/11 ribbon patches on the side of their caps, while the Toronto Blue Jays will wear customized caps in remembrance recognizing both the United States and Canada.

MLB will donate 100% of the royalties from the sales of the special New Era caps to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York, the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa., and the Pentagon Memorial Fund.

Special “We Shall Not Forget” lineup cards and base jewels will be used for all 15 games played on Wednesday, while all home clubs will mark the anniversary with a moment of silence and special pregame ceremonies.

"All of our clubs have a commitment to honoring those whose lives we lost and to ensuring that we don't forget," said Melanie LeGrande, MLB's vice president of social responsibility. "We're preserving the legacy for those who perished on that day."

A public service announcement supporting the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York will also be shown at ballparks, while flags will be flown at half-staff. MLB and the MLB Players Association were among the earliest supporters of the museum, and they are both listed among its founding donors.

“It’s a very important time of the year and everyone’s hearts are heavy,” said Jan-Michael Llanes, the museum’s senior manager, corporate giving. “But to have the support of folks like MLB really means a lot.”

The Mets, who host the D-backs on Wednesday night, will welcome first responders on the field during pregame, and both clubs will wear NYPD and FDNY caps during batting practice.

Many clubs will also honor military, first responders and public service personnel by providing financial contributions to first-responder organizations and donating tickets. In recent years, the Giants have hung banners surrounding the Willie Mays statue in front of Oracle Park with the names of the 2,977 victims who lost their lives that day.

In 2002, MLB and the MLBPA established the “Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund” to support those impacted by the tragic events of Sept. 11. Nearly 500 scholarships totaling $11 million have been awarded in its 17-year history.

MLB Network will feature coverage commemorating the day’s events throughout the league in its studio programming.